tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36335853585425647972012-03-01T22:02:00.025-08:00SO I'M FIFTY!What's the big deal?
This is huge and I'm writing about it!
<br>
Join my journey into the writing life...Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.comBlogger1761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-37235745021299463222012-02-21T14:18:00.000-08:002012-02-28T14:16:31.966-08:00Five Things You Need To Know
By SeanByrne
Happy St. Patricks Day!
I'm on hiatus from social media but there are five things you need to know so you won't wander too far...
1. On March 26th I'm reviewing Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu.
And then on March 28th author Carol Fisher Saller will be with us to talk about her book Eddie's War reviewed on the blog here.
2. Beginning in April I will be exploring Indie publishing and Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-66705415262329906022012-02-15T08:19:00.000-08:002012-02-15T08:38:22.955-08:00Children Are Heroes: An Interview With Anne Warren Smith
Anne has just started to learn to play harp.
Author Anne Warren Smith has dropped by the blog for a visit. I'm so excited to share some interesting tidbits about the author of a delightful three, soon to be four, book series about Katie. Bittersweet Summer is third in the series and will be released on March 1st. See my review here.Katie is one of the most quirkiest characters I've met in Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-49803814389899203872012-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:002012-02-13T08:07:34.363-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Same Sun Here by Silas House and neela Vaswani
Release Date: February 14, 2012
NetGalley Advanced Readers Copy
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About The Book: In this extraordinary novel in two voices, an Indian immigrant girl in Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-84293750946116083922012-02-10T09:00:00.000-08:002012-02-10T21:44:27.955-08:00FURRY FRIDAY: WHAT'S IN A NAME?
peta.org
Okay, so you've adopted a pet, your feeling really good about yourself and then you get home and realize the name that your new family member has is...well... it just doesn't fit. What do you do?
If you're like me you hit the internet looking for the perfect name. So here are some names I found that I really got a kick out of:
fatgirlusa.wordpress.com
Cheese
Bazooka
Daiquiri
Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-48342851874752865142012-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:002012-02-08T09:54:30.867-08:00World Building Technique: An Interview with Jen Reese Author of Above World
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I'm really excited to have Jenn Reese with us today. Her debut, Above World, will be released on February 14th. This is one you're not going to want to miss! I couldn't help but think about Katniss (Hunger Games) as Aluna, the heroine, fights to save her people and ultimately the world.
1) Why do you write for children? When I was young, my home life wasn’t good and books Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-91905698662328153032012-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:002012-02-08T09:50:44.060-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Bittersweet Summer by Anne Warren Smith
Release Date: March 1, 2012
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NetGalley Advanced Readers Copy
About The Book: It's a strange summer for Katie Jordan. Her neighbor Claire is scheming againPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-62321771446407041382012-02-03T09:56:00.000-08:002012-02-03T20:33:01.622-08:00FURRY FRIDAY: Cat Breading...Cruel or Cute?The other day I was looking for a "cute" YouTube video to share on my Furry Friday series. I'm split on this. Is breading a cat cruel? At the same time you can't deny that the pictures are cute, in a minor degrading kind of way. I'm not sure the Egyptians would appreciate this treatment of deity.
Are they happy or sad? Mmm not sure.
(gawker.com)
I decided much of it depends on how it's donePam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-45750008769096561902012-02-01T14:27:00.000-08:002012-02-01T14:28:53.183-08:00Giveway Winner and Some HousekeepingHappy Wednesday!
The winner of the MMGM giveaway of Marianne Malone's The Sixty-Eight Rooms...drum roll.....is...
Deb Marshall
I'll be contacting Deb for her mailing address and getting that off to her very soon! Thanks to everyone that entered!
And now for some housekeeping...
1- As you may have noticed I have some construction going on here on the blog. Lots of dust and noisePam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-5652741384329137932012-01-29T22:06:00.000-08:002012-02-10T10:01:08.437-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Eddie's War by Carol Fisher Saller
About The Book: "Eddie’s War by Carol Fisher Saller shows us the impact of WWII on a farm boy in the Heartland. True and tender."—Nikki Grimes World War II. Hitler is threatening to take over the world. Eddie Carl thinks America should stop him-it's just plain right. But Eddie's just a kid, and the farm in Ellisville, Illinois, is a long way from the fighting.Ellisville: where the big news Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-8730525203720170992012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:002012-01-28T21:16:25.232-08:00FURRY FRIDAY!
Welcome to FURRY FRIDAY! On Friday's you can now count on finding something furry, either a video, article or picture of an animal. Hope you enjoy! Be sure to stop in often for contests, great links and lots of fun.
Today's video features a tiny kitten who was born blind and could easily have ended up homeless or worse. Thanks to some very kind and loving folks she is now enjoying a wonderfulPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-27628247981154658822012-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:002012-01-24T06:00:10.883-08:00Artist Turned Writer: Interview with Marianne Malone
ORDER HERE!
Hello Everyone,
Today on the blog we have Marianne Malone author of The Sixty-Eight Rooms published by Random House in 2010. See my review here. Her second book in the series, Stealing Magic comes out today! Whoo hoo!
About The Book: Chicago sixth graders Ruthie and Jack think their adventures in the Art Institute's sixty-eight Thorne Rooms are over… until miniatures from the Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-77144347405757136682012-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:002012-01-23T08:50:31.607-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday Give-Away: The Sixty-Eight Rooms By Marianne Malone
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About The Book: Almost everybody who has grown up in Chicago knows about the Thorne Rooms. Housed in the Children’s Galleries of the Chicago Art Institute, they Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-72039139389129960962012-01-16T08:25:00.000-08:002012-01-21T17:45:16.084-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Above World by Jenn Reese
Release Date: February 14, 2012
NetGalley Advanced Readers Copy
About The Book: Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony's survival is at risk. The Kampii's breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-57243896035360946172012-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:002012-01-11T19:36:30.274-08:00Remembering Why We Write: An Interview with Cyndi Sand-EvelandHello Everyone,
I'm very excited to have author Cyndi Sand-Eveland with us today. Her new book, A Tinfoil Sky was just released yesterday, January 10th. See the MMGM review here. Her first book Dear Toni was a Diamond Willow Honoree and received The Silver Birch Award for 2010. Dear Toni was also nominated for the Hackmatack and Red Cedar Awards. It was also chosen by the Banks Street College Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-38163704738290581742012-01-09T08:33:00.000-08:002012-01-09T11:30:41.172-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: A Tinfoil Sky by Cyndi Sand-Eveland
Release Date: January 10, 2012
About The Book: Mel and her mother, Cecily, know what it’s like to live rough, whether it’s on the streets or in the apartment of an abusive man.When Cecily announces that they’ve had enough and that they are going to go home to her mother’s, Mel dreams of security, a comfortable bed, and a grandmother’s love seem to be about to come true. But some mistakes Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-62577787777754051032011-12-29T08:56:00.000-08:002012-01-07T20:24:49.890-08:00Happy New Year Blog Hop 2012
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.
Happy New Year Everyone!
I'm so excited for this new year. There is Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-74520248142146659792011-12-19T09:02:00.000-08:002012-02-08T15:52:04.628-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Racing The Moon by Alan Armstrong
About The Book: In the spring of 1947, outer space was an unexplored realm. But eleven year-old Alexis (Alex) Heart and her impulsive brother, Chuck, believe that the stars are within reach. In the midst of building their own rocket, Alex befriends Captain Ebbs, and an army scientist who is working to create food for future space travelers, and who is also a descendent of Captain John Smith. Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-83594830979052725332011-12-12T08:31:00.000-08:002012-02-08T15:49:55.578-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Where The Mountain Meets The Moon
About The Book: In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-9663272420302984702011-12-05T05:00:00.000-08:002011-12-05T05:00:11.489-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
About The Book: "It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-7822569738923925982011-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:002011-11-28T05:00:01.005-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Wolves Of The Beyond by Kathryn LaskyAbout Book I: A wolf mother has given birth, but the warm bundle snuffling next to her brings only anguish. The pup, otherwise healthy, has a twisted leg, and the mother knows what the harsh code of the pack demands. Her pup will be taken from her and abandoned on a desolate hill. The pack cannot have weakness - the wolf mother knows that her pup is condemned to die.
But alone in the wilderness, Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-48344734814017095372011-11-22T21:08:00.000-08:002011-11-22T22:57:53.125-08:00A Thanksgiving Letter To My Children: It's All About BalanceIn a few days we will be sitting down with friends and family to home-cooked meals of turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and green bean casserole... Eeerrrrrrrrt!!! Unfortunately, for the majority of the world this isn't even close to being a reality. Even more tragic is the reality that for thousands children right here in America this may only be a picture in a book. How can thatPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-68100952248712575882011-11-20T22:57:00.000-08:002011-11-20T22:57:15.737-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Also Known As Rowan Pohi by Ralph FletcherAbout The Book: Bobby Steele and his pals, Marcus and Big Poobs, all public school kids from working class backgrounds, are waiting for tenth grade to start when they come across an application form for Whitestone Academy, a prestigious and posh private school. Just for giggles, they decide that a nonexistent kid should apply—and so Rowan Pohi is born. (Named for their favorite hangout, Pohi is Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-89835634562525238242011-11-15T22:16:00.000-08:002011-11-15T22:16:17.312-08:00String Bridge by Jessica Bell
About The Book: Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage--and the person she Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-8294299205590548212011-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:002011-12-06T19:36:11.468-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
About The Book: "Now, for those of you who know anything about blind children, you are aware that they make the very best thieves. As you can well imagine, blind children have incredible senses of smell, and they can tell what lies behind a locked door- be it fine cloth, gold, or peanut brittle- at fifty paces. Moreover, their fingers are so small and nimble that they can slip right through Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-76542955222580264622011-11-11T05:00:00.000-08:002011-11-11T05:00:00.602-08:00Today is THE day to help Jessica Bell's debut, STRING BRIDGE, hit the bestseller list on Amazon, and receive the all-original soundtrack, Melody Hill: On the Other Side, written and performed by the author herself, for free!
All you have to do is
purchase the book today (paperback, or eBook), November 11th, and
then email the receipt to:
jessica.carmen.bell(at)gmail(dot)com
She will then Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-63102817922547091342011-11-10T06:00:00.000-08:002011-11-10T06:00:17.725-08:00Thursday Three Plus One: Celebrating Fellow NW bloggers!!Today I'm spotlighting Northwest Bloggers, specifically bloggers from my home state Washington. I'm in really good company. I found blogs on just about anything I might be interested in. Go Washington, you rock!!!
I have to say, however, choosing which ones to spotlight was no easy task. These are barely the cusp of the Norhwest blogger scene. I will definitely be doing this again!!!
Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-52807194359636385002011-11-06T22:58:00.000-08:002011-11-06T22:58:37.297-08:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Crusade in Jeans by Thea BeckmanAbout The Book: Fifteen-year-old Dolf uses a prototype time machine and gets stuck in the Middle Ages. Trying to find his way back to the twentieth century, he joins a children's crusade of almost ten thousand children on their way to the Holy Land. Dolf helps the children defy the terrible mountains, conquer disease and fight evil knights. Slowly, Dolf begins to realize that the real danger doesPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-88045092155510746152011-10-31T08:21:00.000-07:002011-11-01T13:06:03.036-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Phantom Limb by William SleatorAbout The Book: Isaac is the new kid in town. His mother, Vera, is in the hospital with a mysterious illness, and the only person left to care for Isaac is his distant grandfather. Friendless and often alone, Isaac loses himself in his collection of optical illusions, including a strange mirror box that he finds in his new house, left behind by the previous tenants. Designed for amputees, it Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-37189441892087650472011-10-27T11:29:00.000-07:002011-10-27T11:29:46.421-07:00The Thursday Three Plus The You've Still Got It, Baby Blog of The WeekThe blogs I'm spotlighting today are often random in what they post but that's why I like them. Sometimes I just want a break from how to's and writers angst. Some are writers some aren't. When I'm looking for a break from the hard work of writing I find these refreshing.
Daily Dodo by Laura
Laura comes to us from the UK and brings a unique flavor of humor to all of her posts. You can Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-53267283890730428822011-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:002011-10-27T08:28:14.340-07:00The Thursday Three Plus OneLiterary Rambles by Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre
If you haven't already made this apart of your regular blogging travels, you should. Especially if you are ready to begin the query process. Here you can find how to research an agent and agent spotlights that are loaded with links and information. This blog is an important piece of my query arsenal.
http://www.sodahead.com
Now Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-74529493339962320242011-10-23T22:52:00.000-07:002011-10-23T22:52:09.370-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Toonopolis Gemini by Jeremy Rodden, Illustrated by Cami Woodruff
About the Book: Toonopolis is a cartoon city that is home to the thoughts and ideas of all sentient beings in the universe. As the center of the Tooniverse, it acts as an other-worldly rest stop for these creations.
Gemini is a teenage human boy who is thrust into Toonopolis through his father's scientific research program.
He loses part of himself in the process and immediately begins a Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-44106877165069688262011-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:002011-10-20T05:00:18.431-07:00The Thursday Three Plus OneLast week Alex J. Cavanaugh and Matthew MacNish hosted the Pay it Forward Blogfest where participants highlight three blogs. Talk about an awesome resource for finding more people to connect to! Great idea. Since I do this every Thursday I am excited that I have this great resource to draw from.
Here are three blogs that I discovered this week and one that I visit regularly! Enjoy!
Susan Kaye Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-25562706979696644342011-10-17T05:00:00.000-07:002011-10-17T05:00:08.364-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Benjamin Pratt and The Keepers of The School by Andrew ClementsAbout The Book: Benjamin Pratt’s school is about to become the site of a new amusement park. It sounds like a dream come true! But lately, Ben has been wonder if he’s going to like an amusement park in the middle of his town—with all the buses and traffic and eight dollar slices of pizza. It’s going to change everything. And, Ben is not so big on all the new changes in his life, like how his dad Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-46291331921733835772011-10-13T09:43:00.000-07:002011-10-13T09:43:00.701-07:00The Thursday Three Plus OneIn my travels through the blogosphere I am often amazed by the great blogs out there. Here are some more you shouldn't miss...
Rainstorms & Rainbows by Rain Laaman
First I'd like to officially welcome Rain to the blogosphere. Writing about a variety of writing subjects, Rain is honest about her challenges and discoveries. She began writing early in life and has chosen the challenging Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-7235400023456763292011-10-10T22:12:00.000-07:002011-10-10T22:12:45.912-07:00Give Away and Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Year The Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice
About The Book: Eleanor "Groovy" Robinson loves cooking and plans to go to culinary school just as soon as she's old enough. But even Groovy's thoughtfully—planned menus won't fix the things that start to go wrong the year she turns eleven—suddenly, her father is in jail, her best friend's long-absent mother reappears, and the swallows that make their annual migration to her hometown arrive Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-35857251746706596762011-09-20T22:21:00.000-07:002011-09-20T22:21:49.366-07:00Heading East For Some Color...When the air cools, colors deepen. Crimson. Gold. It's Fall and the warmth of this palette brings joy to my soul. Wait. I live in the Northwest...evergreens. You're lucky if you find some vine maple. Let's face it the palette is limited. This year after a lackluster summer here in Washington, I'm heading to where they have real color. I'm going east on a hunt for the "most beautiful fall foliage.Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-79878958132357568842011-09-15T05:00:00.000-07:002011-09-15T05:00:17.253-07:00The Thursday Three Plus OneHere are some more great blogs...
Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep by Annalisa Crawford
This is a really new blog for me, but poking around I've found some great nuggets that you may find worth clicking on. There are 21 great posts on the writing process and several others about a writers life. Crawford has several short stories that are published and has a nice crisp writing style.
PK HrezoPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-39720569324768343202011-09-12T10:06:00.000-07:002011-09-17T17:57:41.836-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Inquisitors Assistant by Chris Moriarty
I know you probably thought I forgot, but no, I've sort of...well, procrastinated. There I said it. I'm not proud. Soo without further flimsy excuses the winner of Nate Rocks the World is... Mary Aalgaard.
Release Date: 10/3/2011
About The Book: Being an Inquisitor is no job for a nice Jewish boy. But when the police learn that Sacha Kessler can see witches, he’s apprenticed to the department’Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-51374005062241435522011-09-08T17:05:00.000-07:002011-09-08T17:05:59.901-07:00The Thursday Three Plus OneI'm impressed with blogs that I keep stumbling upon and thought I would spotlight some of them so you can be impressed, too. Each week I choose three new blogs (by new I mean those that have started in the last year) that I think have a unique take on something, make me laugh or are just plain awesome. I will also highlight what I will call the "oldie but goody" of the week. This will be a blog Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-75252182584140270332011-08-31T22:43:00.000-07:002011-08-31T22:43:56.463-07:00Now That I'm Fifty-One It Only Gets Better
As my fiftieth year comes to a close I find myself reflecting on the past year. It was a year of firsts, a year of discovery and most of all a year filled with joy. Here is my fiftieth year in review...five at a time...
Word of the Year: JOY 1. The emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure;elation. 2. A source or cause of keen Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-34332292660201969142011-08-29T05:00:00.000-07:002011-08-29T05:00:04.990-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Nate Rocks The World by Karen Pokras Toz an Interview and a Giveaway
Tweet
About The Book:
Ten-year-old Nathan Rockledge cannot catch a break. After all, life as a fourth-grader can be hazardous what with science projects to deal with and recess football games to avoid. Everyone, including his best friend Tommy, seems to have bad luck when hanging around Nathan.
Throw in an older sister who is a royal pain, a dad who is stuck in the past, and a mom Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-8451441514660071912011-08-25T12:05:00.000-07:002011-08-25T12:05:00.957-07:00The Thursday Three Plus OneI'm impressed with blogs that I keep stumbling upon and thought I would spotlight some of them so you can be impressed, too. Each week I choose three new blogs (by new I mean those that have started in the last year) that I think have a unique take on something, make me laugh or are just plain awesome. I will also highlight what I will call the "oldie but goody" of the week. This will be a Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-4228194231892363332011-08-22T08:04:00.000-07:002011-08-24T10:22:43.316-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Crunch by Leslie ConnorTweet
About The Book: Dewey Marriss is stuck in the middle of a crunch. He never guessed that the gas pumps would run dry the same week he promised to manage the family's bicycle-repair business. Suddenly everyone needs a bike. And nobody wants to wait. Meanwhile, the crunch has stranded Dewey's parents far up north with an empty fuel tank and no way home. It's up to Dewey and his older Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-15008447005420055322011-08-17T23:05:00.000-07:002011-08-17T23:11:18.376-07:00The Thursday ThreeI'm so impressed with the blogs I keep stumbling upon and thought I would start spotlighting some of them so you can be impressed, too. Each week I will choose three new blogs (by new I mean those that have started in the last year) that I think have a unique take on something, make me laugh or are just plain awesome. I will also highlight what I will call the "oldie but goody" of Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-73937676433604742222011-08-15T08:57:00.000-07:002011-08-15T09:18:21.518-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Dreamer by Pam Munoz RyanAbout The Book: Neftali finds beauty and wonder everywhere: in the oily colors of mud puddles; a lost glove, sailing on the wind; the music of birds and language. He loves to collect treasures, daydream, and write--pastimes his authoritarian father thinks are for fools. Against all odds, Neftali prevails against his father's cruelty and his own crippling shyness to become one of the most Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-55349321534400098342011-08-10T08:57:00.000-07:002011-08-13T21:35:46.580-07:00PNWA Conference Rocked!!I had a weekend of firsts. Last Thursday-Sunday I attended the PNWA Writers Conference. It was fantabulous, superlicious and awesome!! It was my first, so I had some nerves but I don't think I was as nervous as Chuck Sambuchino said I was. (My hands always shake.) Here are just some of the highlights for me:
1. First you have to understand that I have a weakness for English accents, but Chris Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-66069739755572247622011-08-08T05:00:00.000-07:002011-08-08T05:00:11.473-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Clementine and the Family Meeting by Sara PennypackerAbout The Book: Coming Out on September 13th. Clementine's having a nervous breakdown. The FAMILY MEETING! sign is up in her house, and she just knows she's in trouble for something. Has she been too mean to her little brother? Too sloppy? Eating too much junk food? Try as she might to find out what's on the agenda, her parents won't reveal anything before the meeting. As far as Clementine Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-15382957093505168482011-08-05T05:00:00.000-07:002011-08-05T05:00:09.630-07:00Conference Time: Pacific Northwest Writers AssociationCheck in next week for my report on Wednesday.
Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-77605899195093095982011-08-04T05:00:00.000-07:002011-08-04T05:00:11.400-07:00The Thursday Three Plus OneI'm so impressed with the blogs I keep stumbling upon and thought I would start spotlighting some of them so you can be impressed, too. Each week I will choose three new blogs (by new I mean those that have started in the last year) that I think have a unique take on something, make me laugh or are just plain awesome. I will also highlight what I will call the "oldy but goody" of the week. Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-60980797184335305532011-08-02T05:00:00.000-07:002011-08-02T05:00:19.137-07:00Take A Risk Tuesday: Pitch to an Agent at a Conference This week I'm preparing for my first real writing conference. Besides looking forward to meeting fellow writers, I am also totally pumped for all the workshops. (If I could only split myself into multiple people and attend them all.) Luckily, for me, one of my critique partners is going to join me. Yea, Annie!!
There are a few things I'm sweating about, however. One of them is my Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-12108211823962580192011-08-01T05:00:00.000-07:002011-08-01T05:00:16.560-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Bird In a Box by Andrea Davis PinkneyAbout The Book: In a small upstate New York town during the Great Depression, three children—Hibernia, Willie, and Otis—are about to meet. Hibernia dreams of becoming a famous singer and performing at Harlem’s swanky Savoy Ballroom. Willie is recovering from a tragedy that prevents him from becoming a junior boxing champ. Otis spends every night glued to the radio, listening to the voices Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-72638473335572602992011-07-28T05:00:00.000-07:002011-07-28T05:00:10.501-07:00The Thursday ThreeI'm so impressed with the blogs I keep stumbling upon and thought I would start spotlighting some of them so you can be impressed, too. Each week I will choose three new blogs (by new I mean those that have started in the last year) that I think have a unique take on something, make me laugh or are just plain awesome. I will also highlight what I will call the "oldy but goody" of Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-46658657557208349792011-07-25T09:17:00.000-07:002011-07-25T09:17:18.161-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Limit by Kristen LandonAbout the book: An eighth grade girl was taken today . . . With this first sentence, readers are immediately thrust into a fast-paced thriller that doesn't let up for a moment. In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the monthly debt limit imposed by the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-3155706205310555172011-07-21T08:29:00.000-07:002011-07-21T08:29:14.191-07:00The Thursday ThreeI'm so impressed with the blogs I keep stumbling upon and thought I would start spotlighting some of them so you can be impressed, too. Each week I will choose three new blogs (by new I mean those that have started in the last year) that I think have a unique take on something, make me laugh or are just plain awesome. I will also highlight what I will call the "oldy but goody" of the Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-41269605001150253452011-07-19T05:00:00.000-07:002011-07-19T05:00:03.533-07:00Take A Risk Tuesday: Do Nothing You may scoff that it isn't a risk to do nothing. I would argue that in our hurry-here-finish-this-check-this-off-do-more-culture, it most certainly is. The risk lies in our fear that we are missing something, we're not good enough or that we're behind.
Last Saturday, I went to my grandson Dylan's first Pee Wee Flag Football game. (Say that 3-times fast) The kids looked so cute in their Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-26623486363016750932011-07-18T05:00:00.000-07:002011-07-18T05:00:09.280-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. KirbyAbout The Book: Three ordinary children are brought together by extraordinary events. . .
Giuseppe is an orphaned street musician from Italy, who was sold by his uncle to work as a slave for an evil padrone in the U.S. But when a mysterious green violin enters his life he begins to imagine a life of freedom.
Hannah is a soft-hearted, strong-willed girl from the tenements, who Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-59766463492764713132011-07-15T05:00:00.000-07:002011-07-15T07:53:07.812-07:00Revision Friday: Creating ResonanceYou pause after a paragraph and say to yourself. That's it! And you're sure the author wrote it just for you.
What is that?
That is resonance.
You've just finished reading a great piece of fiction. As you close the cover your mind pulls all the words into a savory bundle that simmers for days...even weeks.
What is that?
That is resonance.
Okay, but what is it really? This is Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-13444498913327981992011-07-12T11:57:00.000-07:002011-07-12T11:57:27.548-07:00Take A Risk Tuesday: Can I Do That? I'm a rebel. Or at least I hope I am.
Rebel 1.a person who refuses allegiance to, resists, or rises in arms against the government or ruler of his or her country. 2.a person who resists any authority, control, or tradition. For the purposes of this post, the second definition is the one I'm discussing. I've always resisted the idea that I couldn't do something. While I haven't Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-6036191737876993632011-07-11T07:44:00.000-07:002011-07-11T07:50:32.927-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Junonia by Kevin Henkes About The Book: Returning to the beach cottage—a cottage named Scallop—where she has always celebrated her birthday is a special occasion for Alice Rice. Who will see the first dolphin this time? The first pelican? What will have changed? Stayed the same? And will this be the year she finally finds a junonia shell? Alice's friends are all returning, too. And she's certain her parents Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-73169330553052236162011-07-08T11:17:00.000-07:002011-07-08T11:17:08.720-07:00Revision Friday: Why Research Is Cool When I was earning my degree I fell in love with research. I totally loved rolling up my sleeves and diving into primary sources on microfiche and culling from old publications. The great thing was, as a student, it was all free and access was simple and quick. Now that I'm no longer affiliated with a university getting my hands on great sources is a bit challenging. But it isn't impossible Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-1078544842582707392011-07-07T10:27:00.000-07:002011-07-07T10:27:41.820-07:00The Thursday ThreeI'm so impressed with the blogs I keep stumbling upon and thought I would start spotlighting some of them so you can be impressed, too. Each week I will choose three new blogs (by new I mean those that have started in the last year) that I think have a unique take on something, make me laugh or are just plain awesome. I will also highlight what I will call the "oldy but goody" of the week. Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-5568603388350818132011-07-05T10:52:00.000-07:002011-07-05T10:52:19.527-07:00Take A Risk Tuesday: Getting into CharacterOur characters are the life blood of our writing. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, it is the characters that will propel the reader through to the end. The last thing we want is homogenized characters that are reflections of ourselves. The best way to keep that from happening is to allow yourself to explore diverse personalities.
1) Find a subculture to drop yourself into.
The Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-7990718450461325812011-06-24T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-24T05:00:21.126-07:00Revision Friday: Having My Very Own Revision and Giveaway WinnerI'm going to warn you right up front, this may be a bit of TMI, but I'm going to do it anyway because I think it applies to the process of revision. Yesterday, I had a hysterectomy. For you to understand the correlation between that and the revision process, you need some brief back story. (Notice my understanding that less is more when it comes to back story.)
I had my first child at 19 Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-20559581685244323002011-06-21T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-21T05:00:08.517-07:00Take A Risk Tuesday: Send That Query
Take A Risk!
So, lets say you've written at least three novels, two are in the drawer but there is something about the third. Could this be the one? How do you know and when is the right time to send that query?
1) Knowing when your project is complete is sometimes difficult. I've heard authors say, "When I stop having new scenes appear in my mind it's finished." or "When all I'm doing is Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-24335699478210434082011-06-20T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-20T09:23:45.778-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate MessnerAbout the book: Gianna Z has less than one week to collect, identify, and creatively display 25 leaves for her science project—or else she won’t be able to compete in the upcoming cross-country race. As the deadline for her leaf project draws near, life keeps getting in the way. Some things are within Gee’s control, like her own procrastination, but others aren’t, like Bianca Rinaldi’s Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-6235357449950994142011-06-17T09:08:00.000-07:002011-06-17T09:08:18.704-07:00Revision Friday: Fixing a Dragging MiddleYou've done your first read through and find yourself bored in the middle. If you're bored, your readers will be too. What can you do? Here are some great ways to ratchet up your middle to carry the reader through to the end. (Resource: Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell
1) Strengthen Your Opposition What gets you to turn the page? For me, it's my concern for the protagonist. How Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-86782298742161663392011-06-14T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-14T05:00:04.751-07:00Take A Risk Tuesday: Read Outside Your Comfort ZoneIn college I took a film class on Western's and Horror, my two least favorite genres. When the instructor juxtaposed Carrie, Psycho and Videodrome against Shane, Unforgiven and The Ballad of Little Joe, I was well out of my comfort zone. This happened again when I chose a class on popular culture and found myself learning about the origins of Punk and Rap music. Was I converted? Did I find Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-71244868965747802162011-06-13T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-13T08:35:01.579-07:00Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: Plain Kate by Erin Bow Review and Give-AwayAbout the book: Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. As the wood-carver's daughter, Kate held a carving knife before a spoon, and her wooden talismans are so fine that some even call her “witch-blade”: a dangerous nickname in a country where witches are hunted and burned in the square.
For Kate and her Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-62198716332638052102011-06-10T10:59:00.000-07:002011-06-10T10:59:19.325-07:00Revision Friday: Three Ways To Beef Up Your FictionRevision is all about making your WIP the best it can be, right? When we are creating it's best to keep moving, no stopping to make sure every sentence does what it's suppose to. Revision is different in that it requires a level head, devoid of the emotional energy of creation. Here are three ways to absolutely improve your work in progress.
1) Slay your babies.These are those sentences created Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-43632353411416705632011-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-08T21:20:52.793-07:00Take a Risk Tuesday: Do Something Unexpected EverydayLife is all about taking risks. I think sometimes we think of risk in grand sweeps of dramatic color splashed upon our life canvas. While sometimes this may happen, I'm talking about tiny moments of exploration. The small kind of discoveries that as children we enjoyed everyday.
As a child each new day presented new opportunities to see, smell, touch, taste or hear something new. Why does thatPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-74107986950559871662011-06-03T08:49:00.000-07:002011-06-03T08:49:46.778-07:00Revision Friday: Dialogue
Photo Credit
I'm neck-deep into revising my WIP. I'm going over all my dialogue, because it's one of the "fastest ways to improve your fiction," according to James Scott Bell in chapter six of his book,Revision and Self-Editing.
Bell does a wonderful job of breaking dialogue into eight essential characteristics. One of these is to make your dialogue full of subtext. He explains that dialogue Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-85924113457890915352011-06-02T14:09:00.000-07:002011-06-02T14:09:11.409-07:00The Winner Of a Copy of Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna L. PetersonCongratulations to TRACY who has won a copy of
The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn
Everybody calls Phillip Isaac Penn, Pip. And usually they yell it at the top of their lungs. Sure he might forget to close the classroom mice's cage door, or leave his mother's hair dryer in bathtub (hey, it's unplugged), and he might even make it so that Liar Lizzy gets caught, but that doesn't make him Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-10271692503899300492011-05-26T06:00:00.000-07:002011-05-26T13:00:18.971-07:00Giveaway, Blog Tour and InterviewTweet
I'm very excited today that Donna L. Peterson has dropped by for an interview. As a writer I'm always interested in an author's process and journey toward publishing.
The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn is fast paced and will keep you laughing all the way through. I reviewed Peterson's book on April 21st. You can see the original review here.
So lets get to it, shall we? 1) Why do Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-32450222610484065792011-05-23T05:00:00.000-07:002011-05-23T05:00:12.330-07:00Up To My Eyeballs in Stuff... And a DrawingHello my dear readers,
As you well know, writing and blogging sometimes has to take a back seat to life. This is one of those weeks.
I will still be participating on the blog tour for the release of The Mis-Adventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna L. Peterson on Thursday, featuring an interview with Donna. So don't miss that.
Everyone that stops by and comments will be entered into a drawingPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-25952458487033045932011-05-18T11:35:00.000-07:002011-05-18T11:35:35.035-07:00Kid Writers Rock! Yesterday, I had the privilege of working with some third grade writers to revise their writing. I loved it. Revising is probably one of the most difficult concepts for a new writer. "What? I have to do this again?" Here are a few observations I made about working one-on-one with young writers:
1) This is the perfect time to model the revising process. Not only does taking the time to do Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-10505124466118607572011-05-15T21:31:00.000-07:002011-05-15T21:31:04.483-07:00What's The Scoop On Writing Contests?There seems to be several camps when it comes to whether or not a writer should enter contests. With the incredible changes in the publishing industry one can't help but ask if entering a contest is in a writers best interest. So I took to the Google highway to gauge the temperature.
Entering writing contest can stretch and hone your skills through following guidelines and producing quality Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-68372591255164784512011-05-11T05:00:00.000-07:002011-06-15T14:35:00.784-07:00Skipping Stones at the Center of the Earth by Andy Hueller
Be sure to check back in July and join the virtual book tour and learn more about this awesome book!!
About the Book: Calvin Comet Cobble lives at Hidden Shores Orphanage. Location: the very center of the earth. Cal's life is full of the school bully and mean teachers, but when he meets Mr. E, who can skip a stone clear across Lake Arctic, everything about Cal's life changes. Told with wit Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-22694291075756359712011-05-09T13:46:00.000-07:002011-05-09T13:46:21.377-07:00Twitter: Learning The LanguageSo I spent the weekend learning about Twitter. I've heard it all: "It's a time waster." "It is social media a writer must be a part of." "Don't be annoying." "It isn't all about you, promote your followers." ... Anyway, when there is something I don't understand, or even worse feel like I'm being left out because of my own ignorance, I kick into overdrive to figure it out. After boiling down thePam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-2810724565158423682011-05-06T05:00:00.000-07:002011-05-06T05:00:15.669-07:00Wrapping Your Mind around POVPoint of view has been a challenge for me. From what I've read it's a problem with many writers, so much so that there are often POV shifts showing up all the time in published books. Once you get it, it is amazing how obvious one of these violations can be. Try finding the shift in POV in the following passages from the same story.
Sarah ran out into the yard, hoping Dylan was still there.Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-91191786053506927342011-05-05T05:00:00.000-07:002011-05-05T08:54:43.251-07:00Milo, Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg
Get The Book Here
About the Book: MILO is the funny and poignant story, told through text and cartoons, of a 13-year-old boy's struggle to come to terms with the loss that hit the reset button on his life. Loveable geek Milo Cruikshank finds reasons for frustration at every turn, like people who carve Halloween pumpkins way too soon (the pumpkins just rot and get lopsided) or the fact Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-48819235898045891942011-05-04T05:00:00.000-07:002011-05-04T08:00:58.194-07:00Which Came First: Reading Or Writing My granddaughter is struggling with reading. So I have been reading lots of things about how to improve a child's ability to read. One of the things that I stumbled on was the idea that reading and writing are interconnected. As writers we know that our writing will never improve if we aren't reading, but is the opposite also true? Does our ability to read improve through writing? The answerPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-76599100869191386992011-05-03T05:00:00.000-07:002011-05-03T06:55:44.111-07:00Mind Mapping For Dummies When I was working as a writing specialist at the grade school we often used webs to connect ideas about what we were learning and to brainstorm. Later, when I returned to complete my college degree I found webbing very useful for taking notes and researching. In the last several years I have seen webbing morph along with our technology into complicated mind map templates where you Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-45562041447734017002011-05-02T05:00:00.000-07:002011-05-02T08:23:35.512-07:00The Writing Mind So here I am at the beginning of a new month, the A-Z challenge behind me and the question is: What can I post that will interest you, the readers? I figure that's the least I can do since you have so graciously decided to take a chance and follow my blog.
My idea: Explore the relationship of writing to the mind.
Why? Even if you're not a writer in pursuit of publication, the idea that Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-11242928568459974432011-04-30T05:00:00.001-07:002011-04-30T08:35:15.098-07:00Z Means It's the EndThis may be the end of the A-Z challenge but it isn't the end of my blogging adventure. I've learned a lot about the blogging community as I twittled around and you twattled in. Thanks so much to all my new followers and for all your comments. Here are some things I learned:
1. Everyone is busy and long posts are time consuming and people are less inclined to comment.
2. White lettering onPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-18636996028530217422011-04-29T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-29T05:00:05.767-07:00I'm Younging Not AgingHave I found the fountain of youth? No. What I have discovered is our age has more to do with your frame of mind than the year on the calendar. So lets explore how "the young" think?
1)Embrace The New Day: Children hit the ground running, they can't wait to see what is going to happen. When was the last time you met the day with that much enthusiasm? When you see each day as a new beginning you Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-20175682990979005642011-04-28T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-28T12:11:26.559-07:00X-quisit Literary Review: Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard JacobsonOK, I cheated but you don't want to miss this great book!
About The Book: Ever since Jack can remember, his mom has been unpredictable, sometimes loving and fun, other times caught in a whirlwind of energy and "spinning" wildly until it's over. But Jack never thought his mom would take off during the night and leave him at a campground in Acadia National Park, with no way to reach her and Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-27077753897417287112011-04-27T10:23:00.000-07:002011-04-27T10:23:33.041-07:00When it's OK to say NO... I have some major WORK to do today but I didn't want to skip today's post. I haven't missed one of the A-Z challenge posts, yet.
Sometimes you have to know when to say NO. No to blog hopping, no to phone calls, no to running errands, no to the laundry, no to the dishes and just park your butt in the chair. That is WHAT I'm doing today. If there is one thing I've learned in my 50+ years Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-49024940944525131452011-04-26T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-26T05:00:11.419-07:00Verisimilitude In FictionBasic to all good fiction is the ability of the story to bring the reader into a world that is believable. Verisimilitude is what we as writers strive for, the ability to represent a plausible reality. In order to suspend disbelief during a story it has to resemble the sensibilities of life to the point that it is believable.
Verisimilitude-1. the appearance or semblance of truth; likelihood;Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-45596459671034504222011-04-25T15:37:00.000-07:002011-04-25T15:37:00.126-07:00Unlikely Events Game As a writer the goal is to tell an interesting story with ample conflict and complex characters. Sometimes a fun way to explore a story or plot idea is to exaggerate events, actions or character traits. As a kid I used to play a game whenever I was stuck waiting for something to alleviate my boredom. It is a game that I haven't ever really given up. I play it sitting at an intersection, Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-87493573004450273192011-04-23T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-23T09:55:11.905-07:00Truth or Dare, Writer's StyleTRUTH: If your deadline was suddenly moved up to next week, what would you do? First, I think I would vomit. Then I would get a Caramel Toffee Cookie Blizzard® TRUTH: How much time do you spend on writing vs. marketing each day?It depends. If my MS is moving along then it is usually 80/20 split. Not so great, 30/70.
DARE: Change one thing in your daily routine, shake it up.
Ok, this week I'm Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-45858107837874987632011-04-22T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-22T05:00:05.246-07:00Semiotics: What are they?
Semiotics , also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of cultural sign processes (semiosis), analogy, metaphor, signification and communication, signs and symbols.
Back when I though I was on my way to a Phd, I did a bunch of research on media and communication. Before you get all worried that I'm going to go all technical on you, hang in there, I'm going to bring it all back toPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-64003210149853723992011-04-21T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-21T05:00:08.282-07:00R Is for New Release: The Mis-Adventures of Phillip Isaac Pen
Release Date: June 14th, 2011About The Book: Everybody calls Phillip Isaac Penn, Pip. And usually they yell it at the top of their lungs. Sure he might forget to close the classroom mice's cage door, or leave his Mother's hair dryer in bathtub (hey, it's unplugged), and he might even make it so that Liar Lizzy gets caught, but that doesn't make him bad. It's just not easy being a kid. Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-315631859342428832011-04-20T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-20T10:48:07.642-07:00Quirky Is GoodBesides loving the word quirky I think it is a great way to develop a character. Create a list of quirks that you observe in yourself and others for use in one of your characters.
Hangs all his shirts with the collars facing the same way.
Shakes his hands and stands on his toes when he is excited.
Buttons her shirt wrong on purpose.
Continuously flips the remote from channel to channel, Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-35641633274378285942011-04-19T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-19T05:00:00.906-07:00Pace: To Speed Up or To Slow Down Have you ever hung around 11 year old boys or girls? If not, I would suggest that you make it a point to do so. Their minds are busy, always thinking of the next thing. If we want our fiction to engage them, we need to pay close attention to pace.
Pace is a way of building tension in your plot and characters and the rate at which the story unfolds. So if my audience is 10-12 year old Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-4632125673653259912011-04-18T09:40:00.000-07:002011-04-18T09:40:18.072-07:00O is for Obdurateobdurate–adjective 1.unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding. 2.stubbornly resistant to moral influence; persistently impenitent: an obdurate sinner. A writer needs to be Obdurate when it comes to their pursuit of publication. You may be asking," Wait a minute. What about yesterday's post?" I know, my post on N was pretty harsh. It was meant to be. I think all Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-71460576373038786772011-04-16T11:44:00.000-07:002011-04-16T11:44:25.120-07:00Never, never give up...Except when it's time
N is for Never
I once believed that I could do anything, go anywhere, be anybody. One day I found out that wasn't true. What I do know is winners sometimes have to lose before they win. Not sure what I mean? Let me see if I can explain it. Stay with me. To get to the other side of this it will require some trudging through the muck.
As children everything is possible. We soon realize that we Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-73849594801458661052011-04-15T11:46:00.000-07:002011-04-15T11:46:47.290-07:00M-Words That Mean Something (At least to me)Mess- Writing can get messy. From the top of my desk to the inside of my brain!Muck- You have to be willing to trudge around in the muck to discover the true essence of your story.
Mood- Set the mood with the right lighting and background music when you write.
Muscle- It takes real strength to continue to believe in your project and not give up.
Milieu- Know the entire world of your main Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-52039245959439532402011-04-14T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-14T05:00:19.817-07:00Love This: Zora and Me by Victoria Bond & T.R. Simon
About The Book:
Whether she’s telling the truth or stretching it, Zora Neale Hurston is a riveting storyteller. Her latest creation is a shape-shifting gator man who lurks in the marshes, waiting to steal human souls. But when boastful Sonny Wrapped loses a wrestling match with an elusive alligator named Ghost -- and a man is found murdered by the railroad tracks soon after -- young Zora’Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-90940768462283248532011-04-13T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-13T05:50:23.525-07:00Kindness: It's Just A Little Thing
"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." -Stephan Grellet
Overwhelmed by the destruction and anguish that the people of Japan are enduring, many have offered their services and relief supplies, and rightlyPam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633585358542564797.post-54109979812203621362011-04-12T05:00:00.000-07:002011-04-12T05:00:00.092-07:00Jumping InJump into the middle of the action.Scenes and chapters should begin after the action has already started.
Jump up to find that high concept idea. A high concept premise may take a willingness to push the envelope. Jump all over the research. Always do more research than you will need.
Jump over your self doubts. We all have them; we can all ignore them.Jump into the heads of your Pam Torreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953440041536434213noreply@blogger.com10